Firearm safety apparatus and methods

ABSTRACT

A firearm safety apparatus comprises an elongated member with an enlarged barrel cap at one end, and means for retaining the other end outside the barrel. The elongated member is long enough to extend through and out of the barrel, and the barrel cap is large enough to prevent its passage through the barrel. The retaining means are engaged with the elongated member after emergence of the end from the barrel so as to retain the first end outside the barrel. The apparatus may be further adapted for enabling removal of the retaining member and removing the safety apparatus from the firearm. The presence (or lack) of the firearm safety apparatus thus installed may be readily ascertained by visual inspection, enabling an observer to determine whether a firearm is definitely safe to handle. The firearm safety apparatus may be brightly colored for facilitating such observation.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims benefit of prior-filed co-pendingprovisional App. No. 60/382,255 entitled “Safe gun” filed Mar. 12, 2002in the name of Randall John Clark, said provisional application beinghereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

[0002] This application is related to subject matter disclosed inprior-filed co-pending design App. No. 29/161,052 entitled “Safe gun”filed Mar. 12, 2002 in the name of Randall John Clark, said designapplication being hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forthherein.

BACKGROUND

[0003] The field of the present invention relates to firearm safety. Inparticular, firearm safety lockout and indicator apparatus and methodsare described herein.

[0004] There are numerous situations in which firearms must be handled,and in which an accidental discharge would be dangerous, if not tragic.Such situations may include (but are not limited to): law enforcementagencies, security agencies, intelligence agencies, defense agencies,military posts/bases/installations, airport security checkpoints, othersecurity checkpoints, other locations where weapons might be confiscatedor checked, crime scenes, property and/or evidence rooms, forensiclaboratories, ballistics laboratories, courtrooms, weapons lockers,armories, firing ranges, target ranges, gun sellers/vendors/dealers, gunshows, marksmanship competitions, hunting outings, hunting lodges,campgrounds, and any other location or situation where firearms may bepresent and in which it would be desirable to prevent accidentaldischarge of the firearms and enable an observer to readily ascertainwhether a firearm would definitely be safe to handle or that extra careshould be exercised.

SUMMARY

[0005] A firearm safety apparatus comprises an elongated member,including a first end thereof and means for preventing a second endthereof from passing into a barrel of a firearm, and means for retainingthe first end of the elongated member outside the barrel. The elongatedmember is sufficiently long so as to enable insertion of the first endthereof into a discharge end of the barrel of the firearm and emergenceof the first end thereof from the barrel at a point other than thedischarge end thereof. The retaining means are engaged with theelongated member after emergence of the first end from the barrel. Theapparatus may further comprise means for releasing the first end of theelongated member and enabling removal of the elongated member from thebarrel. A firearm safety method includes the steps of inserting theelongated member into the discharge end of the firearm barrel, throughthe barrel, and out of the barrel at a point other than the dischargeend thereof. The retaining means are engaged with the elongated memberso as to retain the first end outside the barrel.

[0006] The elongated member may include a transversely enlarged barrelcap segment larger in transverse extent than the inner diameter of thebarrel for preventing passage of the second end of the elongated memberthrough the barrel. The means for retaining the first end of theelongated member outside the barrel may include a plurality oftransverse protrusions longitudinally spaced apart along the elongatedmember between the barrel cap segment and the first end, and a retainingmember with a longitudinal hole therethrough. The retaining member islarger in transverse extent than the inner diameter of the barrel. Thehole is adapted for receiving therethrough the elongated member andtransverse protrusions, and for engaging one of the protrusions forretaining the elongated member within the hole. The hole and/orprotrusions may be adapted for enabling disengagement and removal of theelongated member from the hole through the retaining member and removalof the elongated member from the barrel, and may be further adapted forfacilitating insertion of the elongated member through the hole whileresisting removal of the elongated member from the hole.

[0007] With the firearm safety apparatus inserted through the barrel andthe retaining member engaged, the firearm cannot be discharged. Thepresence (or lack) of the firearm safety apparatus thus installed may bereadily ascertained by visual inspection, enabling an observer todetermine whether a firearm is definitely safe to handle (firearm safetyapparatus present and installed), or if extra care should be exercisedwhen handling the firearm (firearm safety apparatus not present or notinstalled). The firearm safety apparatus may be brightly colored(hunter's orange is particularly suitable) for facilitating suchobservation.

[0008] Objects and advantages of the present invention may becomeapparent upon referring to the disclosed exemplary embodiments asillustrated in the drawings and disclosed in the following writtendescription and/or claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIGS. 1 and 2 are side and end views, respectively, of anelongated member of an exemplary firearm safety apparatus.

[0010]FIGS. 3 and 4 are end and side views, respectively, of a retainingmember of an exemplary firearm safety apparatus.

[0011]FIG. 5 shows an exemplary firearm safety apparatus installed on afirearm.

[0012]FIG. 6 shows an exemplary firearm safety apparatus installed on afirearm.

[0013]FIG. 7 shows an exemplary firearm safety apparatus installed on afirearm.

[0014]FIG. 8 shows an exemplary firearm safety apparatus installed on afirearm.

[0015]FIG. 9 shows an exemplary firearm safety apparatus installed on afirearm.

[0016]FIG. 10 illustrates a firearm safety method.

[0017]FIG. 11 shows a portion of an elongated member of an exemplaryfirearm safety apparatus.

[0018]FIG. 12 is an end view of a retaining member of an exemplaryfirearm safety apparatus.

[0019]FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate engagement of a retaining member andan elongated member of an exemplary firearm safety apparatus.

[0020]FIG. 14 shows a portion of an elongated member of an exemplaryfirearm safety apparatus.

[0021]FIGS. 15A and 15B illustrate engagement of a retaining member andan elongated member of an exemplary firearm safety apparatus.

[0022] The embodiments shown in the Figures are exemplary, and shouldnot be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure and/orappended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0023] A firearm safety apparatus comprises an elongated member 100 anda retaining member 200, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. The elongatedmember includes a transversely enlarged barrel cap segment 110, and aplurality of transverse protrusions 120 longitudinally spaced apartalong the elongated member between the barrel cap segment 110 and theend 140 of the elongated member. The transverse protrusions 120 aresmaller in transverse extent than the inner diameter of the barrel of afirearm that is to be secured with the firearm safety apparatus, therebyenabling passage of the elongated member 100 and transverse protrusionsthereof through the barrel. Firearm safety apparatus all having the sametransverse size (for the transverse protrusions) may be provided, thetransverse size being sufficiently small for insertion through thebarrel of the smallest caliber firearm anticipated. Alternatively, avariety of firearm safety apparatus may be provided having differingsizes for the transverse protrusions, and the appropriate size chosenfor use with firearms of a particular caliber. The elongated member 100is sufficiently long so that upon insertion into the discharge end ofthe firearm barrel, end 140 may emerge from the barrel at a point otherthan the discharge end. The required length varies depending on theparticular firearm to be secured. Handguns may be secured by elongatedmembers between about 6 inches long and about 18 inches long, typicallybetween about 8 inches long and about 12 inches long, commonly around 10inches long. Rifles and shotgun may be secured by elongated membersseveral feet in length. Differing lengths for the elongated member maybe manufactured and the appropriate length chosen for a particularfirearm. Alternatively, a single length may be provided that issufficiently long for securing the longest firearm anticipated, and theelongated member may be cut down to shorter length, if desired, whenused with shorter firearms.

[0024] The transversely enlarged barrel cap segment 110 is larger intransverse extent than the inner diameter of the barrel, so as toprevent the barrel cap segment from passing into the barrel. Barrel capsegment 110 is shown in the exemplary embodiments as a flattened diskand a tapering section. The tapering section is adapted for sliding intothe discharge end of the barrel and somewhat centering the disk over thebarrel end. The diameter of the disk is larger than the inner diameterof the barrel, so that the disk cannot enter the barrel. Theconfiguration of barrel end cap segment 110 shown in the Figures is onlyone example of many that may be employed while remaining within thescope of the present disclosure and/or appended claims. Any shape may beemployed, provided the barrel end cap segment is sufficiently large intransverse extent so as to substantially prevent its passage through thebarrel of the firearm. Firearm safety apparatus may be provided in arange of barrel end cap sizes and selected for use based on theparticular caliber of the firearm. Alternatively, a single barrel endcap size may be provided sufficiently large to enable use with thelargest caliber firearm anticipated, which would also be suitable forsmaller caliber firearms. If adapted in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and2, the flattened disk is larger than the barrel inner diameter, whilethe tapering section is no larger than the barrel inner diameter. Avariety of safety devices thus adapted with differing tapering barrelend caps may be provided for particular firearm calibers, or a singlefirearm safety apparatus may be provided for use with all anticipatedfirearms, with the disk being large enough for the largest anticipatedcaliber and the tapering section small enough for the smallestanticipated caliber.

[0025] An exemplary retaining member 200 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Theretaining member comprises a flattened disk with a hole 210therethrough. When in use, hole 210 is substantially aligned along alongitudinal direction relative to the elongated member 100, while theflattened disk is aligned substantially transversely relative to theelongated member. When in use, the end 140 of the elongated member isreceived through the hole 210, and the retaining member 200 then slidesalong the elongated member 100 in an insertion direction. The retainingmember 200 is larger in transverse extent than the barrel of thefirearm, thereby preventing passage of the retaining member 200 throughthe barrel of the firearm. A single size for retaining member 200 may beprovided sufficiently large for use with the largest caliber firearmanticipated. Alternatively, a variety a sizes for retaining member 200may be provided, and an appropriate size chosen for use with aparticular firearm. The hole 210 through retaining member 200 is adaptedfor enabling the elongated member 100 (and transverse protrusionthereof) to pass therethrough as the retaining member moves along theelongated member in the insertion direction, and for engaging one of thetransverse protrusions thereby retaining the elongated member 100 withinthe hole 210.

[0026] A firearm safety method is illustrated in FIG. 10, which showsinstallation of a firearm safety apparatus as disclosed herein on afirearm 300. Various firearms are shown in FIGS. 5 through 9 with aninstalled firearm safety apparatus. The first end 140 of the elongatedmember 100 is inserted into the discharge end of barrel 310. Theelongated member is pushed further into the barrel until end 140 emergesfrom barrel 310 at a point other than the discharge end. End 140 isinserted through the hole 210 of retaining member 200. The barrel capsegment 110 is urged against the discharge end of barrel 310, and theretaining member 200 is slid along the elongated member 100 in aninsertion direction and urged against the barrel 310 or against someother portion of the firearm 300 (if it is too large to reach thebarrel). One of the transverse protrusions 120 is engaged with the hole210 for retaining the elongated member 100 within the hole 210 throughthe retaining member 200, thereby also holding the firearm safetyapparatus on the firearm after installation.

[0027] With the firearm safety apparatus thus installed, the firearm isrendered safe for handling without risk of accidental discharge. Thepresence of the elongated member 100 within the barrel and the presenceof retaining member 200 outside the barrel prevents chambering of anammunition round and proper operation of the firing mechanism, and mayalso prevent loading of ammunition into the firearm.

[0028] Use of a firearm safety apparatus as disclosed herein enables anobserver to readily ascertain the status of a firearm by visualinspection. The barrel end cap 110, the end 140 of the elongated member100, and the retaining member 200 are all clearly visible outside thefirearm when the firearm safety apparatus is installed on a firearm (asin FIGS. 5 through 9). If an observer sees one or more of these on thefirearm, than he/she can be certain that the firearm cannot dischargeand is therefore safe to handle. If none of these objects are observed,then the observer is warned that extreme care should be exercised whenhandling the firearm, in case it is loaded and ready to discharge. Asafety apparatus as disclosed herein may be brightly colored tofacilitate such observation of the safety status of the firearm. Anybright color may be employed, including (but not limited to) orange(hunter's orange), red, yellow, or other colors, including colorstypically used to indicate danger, hazards, or caution required.Multiple, colors may be employed. Fluorescent colors may be employed forfurther enhancing visibility. One or more of the barrel end cap 110, theend 140 of the elongated member, and the retaining member 200 (i.e., theparts still visible when the firearm safety apparatus is installed on afirearm; see FIGS. 5 through 10) may be colored, or the entire firearmsafety apparatus may be colored.

[0029] Elongated member 100 may be formed from a resilient polymericmaterial, typically an injection-molded material. Such materials mayinclude, but are not limited to, polypropylene, polyethylene, variousother plastics, nylon, high density thermoplastic, combinations thereof,and/or functional equivalents thereof. The elongated member issufficiently rigid to enable insertion though the firearm barrel toemerge at another point of the barrel, while being sufficientlyresilient to bend as need to emerge from the barrel, and to allow theretaining member 200 to be urged against the firearm. The end 140 may beangled to facilitate emergence from side openings in the barrel ofcertain firearms (as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2). Other materials could alsobe employed, such as resilient metal wire, for example. Care may beneeded to protect the inner barrel surface from damage from a metalwire, however, by providing it with a protective coating or barrier, forexample.

[0030] The spaced apart transverse protrusions 120 (with interveningsegments 130 of the elongated member 100) are adapted, along with hole210 through retaining member 200, for enabling sliding of the retainingmember 200 along the elongated member 100 in an insertion direction andpassage of the elongated member 100 through hole 210, and retention ofthe elongated member within the hole (to hold the firearm safetyapparatus on the firearm after installation). Examples of suchadaptations are shown in FIGS. 1 through 4. Hole 210 is shown having acentral portion and a pair of radially extending slots. The centralportion of the hole 210 may be sufficiently large to accommodatesegments 130 therethrough, but may be smaller in transverse extent thanthe transverse protrusions 120. In this example retaining member 200 isformed form a resilient polymeric material (such as the materialsrecited hereinabove for elongated member 100). The slots and theresilient properties of the retaining members enable transverseprotrusions 120 to pass through the hole (and the retianing member tomove in the insertion direction) when a user supplies a sufficientinsertion force. In the absence of sufficient removal force applied by auser, a transverse protrusion 120 engages hole 210 and retains theelongated member 100 within the hole 210 through retaining member 200.Application of sufficient removal force by a user results indisengagement of the transverse protrusion 120 from the hole 210 andsliding of the retaining member 200 along the elongated member 100 in aremoval direction (i.e. opposite the insertion direction) and off of theelongated member, enabling the user to remove the firearm safetyapparatus from the firearm.

[0031] The transverse protrusions 120 and/or hole 210 may be adapted sothat the sufficient insertion force and the sufficient removal forcediffer, the removal force typically being larger than the insertionforce (those this need not always be he case). In an extreme example,transverse protrusions 120 and/or hole 210 may be adapted so that thesufficient removal force exceeds a material failure limit for theelongated member and/or the retaining member. In other words, onceinstalled the firearm safety device can be removed from the firearm onlyby cutting it or breaking it, and it may not be reused. Some sort ofratchet- or pawl-type mechanism for transverse protrusions 120 and hole210 might be employed in such an example (not shown). In FIG. 1transverse protrusions 120 are shown as circumferential flangesextending radially outward from the elongated member and taperedlongitudinally, with the transverse extent of protrusion 120 decreasingtoward end 140 of the elongated member 100. This tapered shapefacilitates insertion of the elongated member 100 and transverseprotrusions thereof through hole 210 as the retaining member slides inthe insertion direction (i.e., reduces the insertion force required).The removal force is typically larger, since there is no taper to assistpassage of protrusions 120 through hole 210 as retaining member 200slides in the removal direction. Many other adaptations and/ormechanisms may be provided for transverse protrusions 120 and/or hole210 for (i) enabling insertion of the elongated member through the holewith an insertion force, (ii) retaining the retaining member on theelongated member, and/or (iii) enabling or deterring removal of theelongated member from the hole. Many such adaptations are known in theart, and shall fall within the scope of the present disclosure and/orappended claims. A few examples include (but are not limited to):spherical protrusions 120 (FIG. 11); crossed slots with no centralportion for hole 210 in a resilient retaining member 200 (FIG. 12);flattened radially extending longitudinal flanges 120 which only passthrough a slotted hole 210 when rotated to the correct position(retaining member 200 need not be resilient; FIGS. 13A/13B); saw toothprotrusions 120 (FIG. 14); retaining member 200 (not necessarilyresilient) with a hole and adjoining slot, the slot accommodatingsegments 130 when retaining the elongated member, and the protrusionspassing through the hole for insertion removal (FIGS. 15A/15B).

[0032] It is intended that modifications to the disclosed embodimentsmay be made without departing from inventive concepts disclosed and/orclaimed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A firearm safety method, comprising: inserting afirst end of an elongated member of a firearm safety apparatus into adischarge end of a barrel of a firearm, the firearm safety apparatuscomprising: (i) an elongated member, the elongated member having atransversely enlarged barrel cap segment thereof and a plurality oftransverse protrusions longitudinally spaced apart along the elongatedmember between the first end and the barrel cap segment, the transverseprotrusions being smaller in transverse extent than the inner diameterof the barrel so as to enable passage of the elongated member andtransverse protrusions thereof through the barrel, and (ii) a retainingmember, the retaining member having a longitudinal hole therethrough,the hole being adapted for receiving therethrough the elongated memberand transverse protrusions thereof; pushing the elongated member furtherinto the barrel of the firearm so that the first end thereof emergesfrom the barrel at a point other than the discharge end thereof, theelongated member being sufficiently long therefor; inserting the firstend of the elongated member through the hole in the retaining member;urging the transversely enlarged barrel cap segment of the elongatedmember against the discharge end of the barrel, the barrel cap segmentbeing larger in transverse extent than an inner diameter of the barrelso as to prevent the barrel cap segment from passing into the barrel;sliding the retaining member along the elongated member in an insertiondirection and urging the retaining member against the firearm, theretaining member being larger in transverse extent than the innerdiameter of the barrel so as to prevent the retaining member frompassing into the barrel; and engaging one of the transverse protrusionsof the elongated member with the hole through the retaining member, thehole being adapted therefor, thereby retaining the elongated member inthe hole through the retaining member.
 2. The method of claim 1, atleast one of the first end, the barrel cap segment, and the retainingmember being brightly colored, thereby enabling an observer to readilyascertain the safety status of a firearm by visual inspection.
 3. Themethod of claim 2, at least one of the first end, the barrel capsegment, and the retaining member being orange in color.
 4. The methodof claim 1, at least one of the elongated member and the retainingmember being formed from a resilient polymeric material.
 5. The methodof claim 1, further comprising: disengaging the engaged one of thetransverse protrusions from the hole through the retaining member;removing the retaining member from the elongated member in a removaldirection, the removal direction being opposite the insertion direction;and removing the elongated member from the barrel, the transverseprotrusions of the elongated member and the hole through the retainingmember being further adapted for enabling disengagement of the engagedone of the transverse protrusions from the hole and passage of theelongated member and the transverse protrusions thereof through the holeas the retaining member is removed in the removal direction.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, the hole through the retaining member including acentral portion and at least one radially-extending slot, the centralportion of the hole being at least as large in transverse extent assegments of the elongated member between transverse protrusions thereof,the central portion of the hole being smaller in transverse extent thanthe transverse protrusions, the retaining member being formed frommaterial sufficiently resilient so as to enable the transverseprotrusions to pass through the hole as the retaining member slidesalong the elongated member in the insertion direction when a sufficientinsertion force is applied by a user, sufficiently rigid so as tosubstantially prevent the transverse protrusions from passing throughthe hole as the retaining member slides along the elongated member inthe removal direction in the absence of sufficient removal force appliedby a user, and sufficiently resilient so as to enable the transverseprotrusions to pass through the hole as the retaining member slidesalong the elongated member in the removal direction when a sufficientremoval force is applied by a user.
 7. The method of claim 6, at leastone transverse protrusion having a longitudinally tapered shape, thetransverse extent of the transverse protrusion decreasing toward thefirst end of the elongated member so that the sufficient insertion forcethat is less than the sufficient removal force.
 8. The method of claim1, the first end of the elongated member being angled so as tofacilitate emergence of the first end from the barrel after insertion ofthe elongated member therethrough.
 9. The method of claim 1, theretaining member comprising a flattened member substantiallyperpendicular to the longitudinal hole therethrough.
 10. The method ofclaim 1, the barrel cap segment including a flattened membersubstantially perpendicular elongated member.
 11. The method of claim 1,the barrel cap segment including a tapered segment adapted for insertioninto the discharge end of the barrel.
 12. A firearm safety apparatus,comprising: an elongated member, the elongated member having a first endthereof, a transversely enlarged barrel cap segment thereof, and aplurality of transverse protrusions longitudinally spaced apart alongthe elongated member between the first end and the barrel cap segment,the barrel cap segment being larger in transverse extent than an innerdiameter of a barrel of a firearm so as to prevent the barrel capsegment from passing into the barrel, the transverse protrusions beingsmaller in transverse extent than the inner diameter of the barrel so asto enable passage of the elongated member and transverse protrusionsthereof through the barrel, the elongated member being sufficiently longso as to enable insertion of the first end thereof into a discharge endof the barrel of the firearm and emergence of the first end thereof fromthe barrel at a point other than the discharge end thereof; and aretaining member, the retaining member having a longitudinal holetherethrough, the hole being adapted for receiving therethrough theelongated member and transverse protrusions thereof, the hole beingfurther adapted for engaging one of the transverse protrusions therebyretaining the elongated member in the hole through the retaining member,the retaining member being larger in transverse extent than the innerdiameter of the barrel so as to prevent the retaining member frompassing into the barrel.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, at least one ofthe first end, the barrel cap segment, and the retaining member beingbrightly colored, thereby enabling an observer to readily ascertain thesafety status of a firearm by visual inspection.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 13, at least one of the first end, the barrel cap segment, and theretaining member being orange in color.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12,at least one of the elongated member and the retaining member beingformed from a resilient polymeric material.
 16. The apparatus of claim12, the transverse protrusions of the elongated member and the holethrough the retaining member being further adapted for enablingdisengagement of the engaged one of the transverse protrusions from thehole and passage of the elongated member and the transverse protrusionsthereof through the hole as the retaining member is removed in a removaldirection, the removal direction being opposite the insertion direction.17. The apparatus of claim 16, the hole through the retaining memberincluding a central portion and at least one radially-extending slot,the central portion of the hole being at least as large in transverseextent than segments of the elongated member between transverseprotrusions thereof, the central portion of the hole being smaller intransverse extent than the transverse protrusions, the retaining memberbeing formed from material sufficiently resilient so as to enable thetransverse protrusions to pass through the hole as the retaining memberslides along the elongated member in the insertion direction when asufficient insertion force is applied by a user, sufficiently rigid soas to substantially prevent the transverse protrusions from passingthrough the hole as the retaining member slides along the elongatedmember in the removal direction in the absence of sufficient removalforce applied by a user, and sufficiently resilient so as to enable thetransverse protrusions to pass through the hole as the retaining memberslides along the elongated member in the removal direction when asufficient removal force is applied by a user.
 18. The apparatus ofclaim 17, at least one transverse protrusion having a longitudinallytapered shape, the transverse extent of the transverse protrusiondecreasing toward the first end of the elongated member so that thesufficient insertion force that is less than the sufficient removalforce.
 19. The apparatus of claim 12, the first end of the elongatedmember being angled so as to facilitate emergence of the first end fromthe barrel after insertion of the elongated member therethrough.
 20. Theapparatus of claim 12, the retaining member comprising a flattenedmember substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal holetherethrough.
 21. The apparatus of claim 12, the barrel cap segmentincluding a flattened member substantially perpendicular elongatedmember.
 22. The apparatus of claim 12, the barrel cap segment includinga tapered segment adapted for insertion into the discharge end of thebarrel.
 23. A firearm safety method, comprising: inserting a first endof an elongated member of a firearm safety apparatus into a dischargeend of a barrel of a firearm, the elongated member having a first endthereof and means for preventing a second end thereof from passing intothe barrel; pushing the elongated member further into the barrel of thefirearm so that the first end of the elongated member emerges from thebarrel at a point other than the discharge end thereof, the elongatedmember being sufficiently long therefor; and retaining the first end ofthe elongated member outside the barrel after emergence thereof from thebarrel.
 24. he method of claim 23, further comprising: releasing thefirst end of the elongated member; and removing the elongated memberfrom the barrel.
 25. A firearm safety apparatus, comprising: anelongated member, the elongated member having a first end thereof andmeans for preventing a second end thereof from passing into the barrel,the elongated member being sufficiently long so as to enable insertionof the first end thereof into a discharge end of the barrel of thefirearm and emergence of the first end thereof from the barrel at apoint other than the discharge end thereof; and means for retaining thefirst end of the elongated member outside the barrel after emergencethereof from the barrel.
 26. The apparatus of claim 25, furthercomprising means for releasing the first end of the elongated member andenabling removal of the elongated member from the barrel.